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The long-delayed project to remove the temporary security measures around the Federal Courthouse in Carlyle and install new, more permanent security measures will be starting next week. See the video above from the May 2012 meeting of the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) where the NCPC gives its approval for the project. Starting at approx. 5:09 in the video, the presenter goes over the plans for the Courthouse.

Some of the improvements include:

Removal of jersey barriers around the Courthouse

The installation of garden walls and secure bollards around the site.

The movement of existing parking spaces from Jamieson Ave to Elizabeth Lane.

The reopening of Courthouse Square to one-way traffic.

This includes pop-up bollards on Courthouse Square which can be popped up in case of an event at the Courthouse.

Effective Thursday, March 23rd, Jamieson Avenue will be PARTIALLY CLOSED allowing only one-way traffic heading westbound on Jamieson by the Courthouse construction site. Traffic from Mill Road headed eastbound for Jamieson Avenue will be diverted. Eastbound drivers can turn on Elizabeth Lane off of Eisenhower Avenue or continue on Eisenhower Avenue to John Carlyle Street or Holland Lane. Reportedly, this traffic plan will be in effect for the duration of the project, estimated to be completed in the early fall.

The City has directed the general contractor to put a message board at the corner of Mill and Jamieson Ave starting Monday about the one way traffic.

Power Outages in West End Alexandria

More than 70 customers are currently without power today in Alexandria, Virginia, according to Dominion Power after winter storm Stella on Tuesday. The biggest outages are in the West End of Alexandria, Virginia in the Beuregard neighborhood, according to the power company.

Dominion has no timetable for outage restoration. If your power is out, be sure and report it at this link.

MetroAccess Service to Resume After Winter Storm Stella

MetroAccess paratransit service for customers with disabilities will resume service on Wednesday morning in the Washington, D.C. area after winter storm Stella. The MetroAccess reservations call center has reopened as of noon today (Tuesday) to assist customers with scheduling trips for Wednesday and future dates.

Due to the nature of MetroAccess service, where vehicles often travel on secondary or tertiary streets, customers may experience lengthier trip times due to road conditions. In some cases, “door-to-door” service may be unavailable where driveways or sidewalks have not been cleared of snow and ice. In such cases, the driver will provide “curb-to-curb service” instead.

Customers with subscription trips reserved for Wednesday who would prefer not to travel are encouraged to call the MetroAccess call center to cancel as soon as possible.

Amtrak Service Update for Tuesday, March 14

Amtrak will operate a modified schedule in the Northeast region on Tuesday, March 14, due to a winter storm. Passengers holding reservations are strongly encouraged to monitor conditions and make any necessary changes in advance of their scheduled departure using amtrak.com or our mobiles apps to check their train status.

Due to changing winter storm conditions, the Northeast Regional service between New York City and Boston and Empire Service between New York City and Albany, N.Y., are suspended until further notice. Trains that depart each city before 9:00 a.m. will complete their trips. Acela Express service between New York City and Boston has already been canceled.

In addition, the Acela Express and Northeast Regional service that operate between New York City and Washington, D.C., will run on a modified schedule, with some trains truncated or cancelled, including some trains that operate in Virginia.

The Keystone Service, Shuttle, and Downeaster Service will also run on a modified schedule, with some trains truncated or cancelled.

Some long distance trains that normally travel to and from the Northeast Corridor will also be affected, with service suspended between Albany/Rensselaer and Boston, and between Pittsburgh and Washington, D.C.

Beatley Friends’ Group Spring Book Sale Starting Tuesday, March 21

The Friends of the Beatley Central Library will hold their Spring Book Sale from Tuesday, March 21 to Sunday, March 26, 2017 at the Charles E. Beatley, Jr. Central Library, located at 5005 Duke Street, Alexandria, VA 22304. Free parking is available.

Over 30,000 books, DVDs, CDs and audio books, donated by community members, will be available for sale. Most cost less than $3.00. All proceeds benefit the programs and facilities of the Library.

Tuesday marks a special day for mathematicians because it’s March 14th (a.k.a. 3-14), otherwise known as International Pi Day.

Pi, not to be confused with the much more appetizing pie, is the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter. The first three digits of the calculation are 3.14 which has made March 14 the official day of Pi.